PRE-OPS: THINK TWICE, CUT ONCE -- OR ELSE!!

Oh no, not again!

 

Yes, I am reposting this thread.  We had an entertaining and enlightening several days with it last year, but at this time of year, ObesityHelp gets a high influx of new people every day – nothing like seeing family and friends for holiday gatherings and having them size up how much weight you’ve gained since last year, to say nothing of having to eat in front of them, and of course the inevitable New Year’s resolutions to be made.

 

If you aren’t interested in this message, please feel free to move on.  I don’t believe I am using up electrons that are costing you money.  And I’ve even made the comment you are thinking upfront, so no need for you to repeat the sentiment – unless you enjoy helping with the post and view count that gets threads like this the interest  I am seeking in the first place.  Either way, I’m good with it!

 

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As someone who helps people get insurance coverage for the DS (pro bono), I am seeing more and more people looking for REVISIONS to their first bariatric surgeries which failed them -- almost always the VBG, VSG, Lapband or RNY.

More and more often, people are showing up with a new contractual limitation in their health insurance which often turns out to be insurmountable:  a one-bariatric-surgery-per-lifetime restriction.  Yes, even if a different insurance company paid for your initial surgery, or even if you SELF-PAID for your first surgery.  Basically, the insurance companies are starting to exclude ANY revision surgeries, except possibly to reverse the surgery altogether if there are medically necessary complications, e.g., to remove a bad band -- but they won't pay for a revision to another surgery.

THINK TWICE, CUT ONCE -- YOU MAY NOT GET A SECOND CHANCE!

And make sure you really understand the true benefits of the DS before you opt for a less-effective surgery.

Diana,

You are SO right about this.  Like many, I was going for the Lapband because I thought "eh...I'm not QUITE 100 lbs overweight so I'll do the lightweight solution."  Boy am I glad I found this website and dsfacts.com.  I had a surgeon pushing me towards lap band or, at best, RNY.  Despite telling him how much I'd learned about the DS (and even though he did perform it) he would rather have done an easier procedure (the DS took him 7 hours!).  On my very first post on the DS board here, someone spoke the words that stuck in my head, "THINK TWICE, CUT ONCE."  I never forgot that!

Once I did more fact-finding, it became clear that the DS was the superior surgery.  Now that I'm almost 6 weeks out I can't believe how easy this is!  I probably had less pain and nausea than most but I'm eating regular food, I only measure fat, protein and water/fluids.  I make sure my carbs stay low but, guess what?  I don't even WANT carbs!  I never was a journaling-type person but I do it religiously to track what I'm eating and am finding it so easy to get the nutrients I need.

Vitamins....kind of a pain but necessary with ANY WLS!  Its a committment I've made to myself and for my son.  This doesn't feel like much of a lifestyle change at all.  For once, I finally feel like I am going to succeed at losing the weight and KEEPING it off.

From someone who's worked in the benefits industry for years, heed the warning.  1 lifetime WLS is becoming more prevalent!  I see it in almost all plans nowadays.  Employers are finally beginning to see the benefit of having healthier employees and are adding the WLS rider to their policies.  To fight back, the insurance industry is restricting our right to be healthy.  To them, we're better off sick for years so we use our insurance benefits.  If we are healthy, why would we need insurance?  Its a vicious cycle that will get worse before it gets better.

To any pre-op:  No matter what surgery you choose, make SURE you do your homework!  Ask questions to all of the post-ops on the boards...ALL of the boards!  Research your surgeons, research reputable WLS websites.  Ask the tough questions!  This is your life you are about to change and you don't want just any surgery and you don't want just any surgeon to perform it.

I happened to stumble upon Obesity Help by searching for info in google about weight loss surgery. I didn't register as a user for quite some time. I just kinda lurked around. I finally saw how awesome the support is at this site so I decided to register. I was all set to have RNY(gastric bypass) surgery in April of this past year. I jumped through insurance hoops, the dietician supervised visits, ALL my pre-op testing (upper gi, ekg, bloodwork, etc etc) I happened to make a post on Obesity Help Main Board regarding the crappy fact that after surgery, I wouldn't be able to take NSAIDS for the rest of my life. (REST.OF.MY.LIFE) I'm 25 years old!!! I have PCOS and terrible, life limiting menstral cycles. The ONLY relief I would get would be from ibuprofen. The post I made expressing my anger at having to give up NSAIDS, started a "surgery war" and led me to make the best decision I have ever made for myself. What if I was older and got arthritis? It runs rampant in my family... what would I do??Well, I got the DS because it allows me to take NSAIDS if needed..

I had to switch surgeons... the current surgeon i had does not do the DS (ok, well he had done 7 of them, and I heard they were butcher jobs so I went elsewhere). I visited www.dsfacts.com and found my current DS surgeon. My first surgeon tried to talk me out of getting the DS. He said I would have Diarrhea everyday of my life, the most foul smelling farts ever, and would have to use the bathroom 5 to 10times a day. I call BULL**** He didn't want to lose my money. Of course. This is a damn business transaction. And although some people say surgeons are doing it out of the goodness of their heart?? I call BULL**** again. You are a customer, get the best surgery out there to help you acheive and MAINTAIN a healthy body weight!!

Oh, and guess what? I poop twice a day. Once in the morning, and then once about 30 mins. after I eat dinner. I'm more regular now than Pre-Op!! And, I CAN control my bowel movements. I was on Xenical when I was 17 and boy o boy did I ever have lots of accidents, I thought that would happen to me now,.. but NOPE... the DS is amazing!!!!

I can eat all the fat I want!!! Since I'm still in my weight loss phase, I low carb it. I don't even count the amount of carbs I eat, I just eat protein first and avoid simple carbs. I have splurged during the holidays, but you know what?? Skinny people do that to!! I've spurlged during the holidays and still lose weight!! I feel no guilt for eating ANYTHING!! Such a wonderful freeing experience. I don't even feel like I'm on a diet. It is truly surreal!

NOTHING makes me dump... because I have a pyloris!!! I have a fully functioning tummy, not some man-made pouch that can stretch or cause dumping. yikes.

Switching surgeons was a breeze, I got all of my info transferred to my new surgeon and had surgery within 3 months of switching surgeons. wahoo!!!!

Feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns/worries you may have.

My DS is a god-send near miracle!! Statistically it is the best surgery available for weight loss!!

Diana
Thank you so much for this post. I wish I would have seen it four years ago when I got suckered into having the lapband. It was the big hype and I thought it was my dream to being thin, boy was I wrong. Four years later I have horrible acid reflux and heartburn, can't eat proteins or any veggie or fruit with skin or I throw up. My life sucks when it comes to eating. I am hoping that I will be able to get a revision to a DS from my lapband. I have Kaiser and I am hearing conflicting reports. Some say they will do a revision and some say they don't. Fingers crossed they do.
Please people really think about the long term. I wish I had.
Gina

PLEASE research all your options for weight loss surgery.

I have a dear friend who was just in the hospital for 15 days from an ulcer. The doctor told her due to her "pouch" from the RNY dumping stomach acids directly into the intestines, it caused this ulcer. Had she waited a few more hours to go to the ER, my friend could have died. She had a Lap RNY 2 years ago. Now she has a huge incision from the ulcer & tiny scars from the lap. She will also be on acid blockers for the rest of her life.

This rarely (never****urs in DS patients because the pylorus pushes/regulates food & digestive juices from the stomach to the intestines.

Think twice, cut once!

Good luck and God Bless.

Thanks for posting Diana, I know I just about got the RNY surgery twice and if it wasn't for posts like yours I probably would have the RNY now.  Fortunately I fought the system to the best of my ability with what I had and although I wasn't able to get approved for the DS, I strongly believe I got a superior surgery to the RNY...the VSG.  I figure I am going to do the best I can with this new tool for as long as I can and then I will fight again, should it not be aggressive enough, and I will try to get the DS even if I have to self pay.  By that time I hope to be able to afford to do that because my salary at my new job that I just started this past September should be getting up there.  For now I'm very happy to have at least a fully functioning stomach and not a pouch! 

At least if I do require a revision in the future, I have half the surgery done! *Giggles*  Besides, with my high BMI, I might have had to do my DS in two steps anyway.   But so far, I'm very thrilled with my surgery option and I'm only 4 days out...no buyers remorse here! *Giggles* 

I don't see any reason you can't make it to your goal with your VSG alone.  I have already lost 124 pounds in 8 mths, and never plan on having any other surgeries.  For me..it was 'cut once'..just follow your surgeons instructions as far as eating and exercise..you'll get there!

Thanks for the encouragement Dawnie!  I'm not saying that I will have the DS, but if it's not aggressive enough for my needs then I will pursue it, although I am hoping that this is it for me too. Funniest things is my surgeon doesn't have as much faith in the VSG as he does in the RNY??? But I refused to get the RNY once I got all of the facts. 

By the way... Congratulations on your weight loss success to date!  You're doing an amazing job!

I'm sure you will do great!  VSG is what I recommend to everyone after the DS.  AND the DS is not for everyone either.  Best wishes!!

Thank you Strawberry28!  I agree with you, I too also recommend the DS and or the VSG depending on their needs and their situation.  I can honestly say that I'm thrilled to have gotten the VSG over the RNY that's for sure and I'm going to do everything I can to make it work for me!